If you've ever had more than a fleeting conversation with me, it probably won't surprise you to find out I was something of a theater kid.

I spelled the term "theatre." I had the comedy and tragedy masks hanging in my childhood bedroom. I was in somewhere around 20 productions from the time I was 10 to 18.

I gave up theater for an only slightly more stable career — journalism.

So when I found out that Marinella Hume Casting Co. was holding an open call for extras for "a popular political drama," I had to go. While the company couldn't say it, for anyone who knows anything, knows that this "popular political drama" is "House of Cards," the Netflix series starring Kevin Spacey as the ruthless and calculating Frank Underwood.

The show is filmed in Maryland, with close ties to Annapolis. The cast has filmed in the State House, and has spent evenings rubbing shoulders with powerful politicians to keep a $11.5 million package of tax credits and grants for filming the show in the state.

The Marinella Hume Casting Agency held a casting call at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis Saturday looking for extras for the Netflix show House of Cards.

So, per the advice of the call sheet, I threw on a black clingy dress and blazer and headed to the Pip Moyer Recreation Center, to stand in line with 1,000 of my new friends. To be clear, I intended to wait the hours in the line that others were enduring. I brought two newspapers to read, and snacks.

Luckily, I crossed paths with Bill Marinella and Andrea Hume, owners of the company. The two had people waiting by 7 a.m., and opened the doors early. By 11, they had already taken headshots of 1,500 people, and were planning for at least another 1,000 by the end of the day.

People just love being on TV, Marinella said.

"This is a knock it off the bucket list kind of thing," Marinella said. "You could be the guy next to the guy who was next to the guy who is next to the star."

The casting company is creating a database of extras, which is why they need so many people. They've done casting calls all over the state and have another scheduled for White Marsh on Sunday. They're going to need thousands, Marinella said.

The days can be long for an extra. They're often 12-hour days, and involve arriving at the set between 6 and 7 a.m. Extras are paid about $100 a day, and get breakfast and lunch from the deal. Of course, the first hurdle is the line.

Terri Hanks of Baltimore and her sister Sherry Hinton of Pasadena had been waiting for an hour and a half, and were just rounding the corner of the building when we caught up. The casting call has been all over Facebook. The two, who have never seen the show, thought, well — why not?

"This experience is why we're here," Hanks said.

They almost gave up though.

"There was a moment when their resolve was starting to show," said Brian Hoxie of Annapolis, their new friend and standing-in-line neighbor.

"I walked to figure out how long (the line) was," Hanks said.

In the end, the two decided to stick it out.

Caterina Rose, a new Annapolis High School grad, said that she wasn't sure how long she had been in line. She was just about to have her photo taken.

"I thought not looking at the time would help pass the time faster."

The showing in Annapolis has been pretty strong, Hume said. Both Mayor Mike Pantelides and Alderwoman Shelia Finlayson made it to pose for their headshot. They both want to be on the show.

Hume said she was impressed by the turnout. On a humid 80 degree day, men and women came dressed in their best. That meant shift dresses, suits, and even tuxes.

"For me, I love the enthusiasm," Hume said.

The casting company takes an interest in anyone who has a real skill. If a firefighter signs up to be an extra, they may be requested to wear his or her uniform for a part. A server may be needed for a restaurant scene to carry a tray.

On my form, Hume listed an additional special skill: reporter.

They also list vehicles, another way to make some extra cash. They need cars to populate the roads for scenes, Hume explained. Those are often vehicles from extras.

After waiting in line outside, there was one more line inside, where rows of chairs gave the weary extras a place to sit while they waited.

After skipping the line — sorry guys! — Jerel Jefferies took my headshot.

I smiled a big, million-watt smile.

Jefferies stopped me — you can't smile with teeth.

Whoops! It was intimidating, to say the least. And then, it was over.

I finished my brief headshot around the same time as Del. Tony McConkey, a Republican delegate from Severna Park.

"I've been a great fan of the show. This would be a dream to be a part of the show," he said.

He did not use his political clout to skip the line. Instead he waited about 90 minutes to get into the door, and then another 45 minutes before getting his photo taken. He made some new friends, and talked to some people.